Friday, January 28, 2011

So. This post is for those of you who have been sitting--literally--on the edges of your seats, wondering, "How's that diet going for you, Ruth?" I pray there aren't many of you, because, well--frankly--I hope you have better things to do.

Nonetheless, just in case, here is my report of how Week 1 and Week 2 of the Game On! Challenge have gone down:

Week 1: It was a hard week. I'd kind of anticipated starting the challenge the following week, but the other players were extremely motivated and ready to go. I didn't quite have my head in the game, during week 1. But I didn't want to let down my team, so I stuck it out. Exercise wasn't a problem, but drinking 3 liters of water each day most certainly was a problem. Additionally, I found that, for about the first 5 days, I was really, really grouchy. (Don't believe me? Ask my family. At one point, I actually said, "Look, everyone, Mommy loves you, but going without sugar is making her CRAZY!") But, by the end of the week, I'd gained a swanky, new, digital scale, and I had lost 2.5 pounds. That gave me plenty of motivation for.....

Week 2: It definitely took me a week to feel like I wasn't going hungry. This diet is not necessarily calorie restrictive, but I do have to watch my portion sizes. I was a lot better at filling up on salad greens during week 2, and I really started to feel like my meals were more satisfying. Although I started the week off lamenting about all the water I had to drink, I got some great advice from a teammate, and by the end of the week, I was polishing of 3 liters like a pro. (More about that great advice in a moment.) Midweek, I got a craving for fish fajitas from our favorite mexican restaurant, and informed the Bionic Man that my diet day off was Saturday, and he would take me out for fish fajitas....OR ELSE. He got the message, and I got my fish fajitas. Knowing I could eat fish fajitas on Saturday was the only thing that kept me going on Friday when I felt like snacking on something more substantial and sweet than two almonds. I was a little freaked that the scale didn't budge for a couple of days, but after two good workouts, I was able to end my week with another 2.5 pound loss!

Now, I know that a healthy lifestyle is not all about losing pounds. However, I really do have weight to lose: I'm working on my cholesterol, and getting a lower BMI. My goal for the next two weeks is to incorporate more weights and toning into my workouts (so far, I've concentrated on cardio). Has anyone out there tried something called Pure Barre? There aren't any classes offered in my area, but I'm curious if anyone thinks it would be worth it to purchase a Pure Barre DVD.

Here's the deal with water: up until a few days ago, my strategy was to carry around a 1 liter water bottle, that I filled and drained 3 times. It seemed like sooooo muuuuuch water. Invariably, at 9:30 at night, I was trying to chug my last liter, and then spending the next 2 hours running from my bed to the bathroom.

My teammate Stephanie suggested that I try something else. Based on her advice, this is what I'm doing now:

a) I measured one of my pretty, tall, glass tumblers, and found out that it held 16 ounces (1/2 liter) of water. b) Now, before I have one of my 5 daily meals or my 1 daily 100 calorie snack, I fill up my pretty tumbler and drink that water. 6 glasses x 1/2 liter = 3 litersc) Psychologically, drinking out of that tumbler seems so much easier than sipping my way through a full liter from a sport bottle. d) Another benefit is that, since I drink it before my meals, I fell more full and satisfied after those small meals.e) The best part is, I'm finishing off my last 1/2 liter well before bedtime, when I have my last meal.

Finally, I present to you an inspiring presentation of just how fun fitness can be. (Well, if not inspiring, at least it is funny.) One disclaimer: this is NOT me and Justone. But I really have to hand it to these two. They are highly entertaining.

Wow, that's awesome. I've got a "few" pesky pounds to lose. I think I'll check out the Game On Challenge and see if it would work for me. In the meantime I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting to see how that diet's going for you!!

The Quote that Really Inspires Me:

"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. "What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. "If you still feel incapable of creating, start small. Try to see how many smiles you can create, write a letter of appreciation, learn a new skill, identify a space and beautify it." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage"